Choosing Safe Baby Products: Toys

All toys you select for your baby or toddler should meet safety standards. The
tips below can help you find safe toys for your little one. At home, check them often
for loose or broken parts.

What to look for:

Always follow all manufacturers' age recommendations. Some toys have small parts
that can cause choking, so heed all warnings on a toy's packaging.

Toys should be large enough — at least 1¼" (3 centimeters) in
diameter and 2¼" (6 centimeters) in length — so that they can't be swallowed
or lodged in the windpipe. A small-parts tester, or choke tube, can determine if a
toy is too small. These tubes are designed to be about the same diameter as a child's
windpipe. If an object fits inside the tube, then it's too small for a young child.
If you can't find one of these products, a toilet paper roll can be used for the same
purpose.

Avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters)
in diameter or less because they can become lodged in the throat above the windpipe
and cause trouble with breathing.

Battery-operated toys should have battery cases that secure with screws so that
kids cannot pry them open. Batteries
and battery fluid pose serious risks, including choking, internal bleeding, and chemical
burns.

When checking a toy for safety, make sure it's unbreakable and strong enough
to withstand chewing. Also, make sure it doesn't have:

sharp ends or small parts like eyes, wheels, or buttons that can be pulled loose

small ends that can extend into the back of a baby's mouth

strings longer than 7 inches (18 centimeters)

parts that could become pinch points for small fingers

Most riding toys can be used once a child is able to sit up well while unsupported
— but check the manufacturer's recommendations. Riding toys like rocking horses
and wagons should come with safety harnesses or straps and be stable and secure enough
to prevent tipping.

Hand-me-down and homemade toys should be checked carefully. They may not have
undergone testing for safety. Do not give your infant or toddler painted toys made
before 1978, as they might have paint that contains lead.

Stuffed animals and other toys that are sold or given away at carnivals and fairs
are not required to meet safety standards. Check carnival toys carefully for loose
parts and sharp edges before giving them to your child.

Check to see if a toy has been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) on their recall page. You also can
sign up to get news about the most up-to-date toy recalls.

SAFETY NOTES:

Never give balloons or latex or vinyl gloves to kids younger than 8 years old.
A child who is blowing up or chewing on a balloon or gloves can choke by inhaling
them. Inflated balloons pose a risk because they can pop without warning and be inhaled.

Never give your baby or toddler vending machine toys, which often contain small
parts.